ASTM F3773-25
Preview
Summary
1.1 Purpose:
1.1.1 The purpose of this test method is to quantitatively assess how much a back exoskeleton affects low back loading (musculoskeletal forces in the lumbar region of the back) and low back disorder (LBD) risk. LBDs refer to a broad range of medical conditions, injuries, or issues of the lumbar region of the back, including (but not limited to) low back pain, strains, sprains, and herniated discs.
1.1.2 This test method specifies a test setup, analysis procedure, and recording to standardize the ergonomic assessment of workers wearing back exoskeletons during lifting, lowering, or other jobs or tasks that involve bent forward postures.
1.1.3 This test method is intended to be executed by test technicians or test supervisors (for example, researchers, independent labs) who can measure biomechanical variables and perform biomechanical calculations up to and including computing peak biological lumbar moments (torques) and moments exerted by exoskeletons on users. It is vital that this test method be conducted by personnel having the knowledge and experience appropriate to perform this type of biomechanical analysis.
1.2 Use of this Test Method:
1.2.1 This test method is useful for test requestors (for example, safety professionals, exoskeleton manufacturers, exoskeleton implementers) to enable standardized assessment of back exoskeletons.
1.2.2 This test method can be used to evaluate a wide range of back exoskeletons, including those characterized as active (powered) exoskeletons, passive (non-powered, elastic) exoskeletons, rigid exoskeletons, soft exoskeletons, and mode-switching exoskeletons.
1.2.3 This test method is intended to evaluate jobs or tasks that involve lifting or lowering objects below the waist, for instance, tasks common in manual material handling work.
1.2.4 This test method is also intended to evaluate jobs or tasks that involve trunk bending (that is, sagittal plane flexion), such as stooping, squatting, or other bent forward postures.
1.2.5 This test method may be applied to jobs or tasks that are done with or without handheld objects (for example, boxes, shovels, tools).
1.2.6 This test method may be applied to pushing, pulling, or other non-lifting tasks if they are performed in a bent-forward posture (for example, stooping, squatting, lunging).
1.2.7 This test method may be applied to jobs or tasks that involve both bent-forward and upright postures.
1.2.8 This test method may be applied to jobs or tasks that involve symmetrical or asymmetrical bending or lifting, or a combination thereof.
1.2.9 This test method may be applied to evaluate exoskeleton effects on peak back biomechanical loading during a task using a discrete analysis, or to evaluate exoskeleton effects on time-varying back biomechanical loading throughout a job or task (that is, not just peak loading) using a continuous analysis.
1.2.10 This test method is NOT intended to evaluate overhead work or tasks (for example, pushing, pulling, lifting, sitting) that are performed solely in an upright posture.
1.2.11 This test method is NOT intended to evaluate changes in risk due primarily to trunk twisting or lateral trunk bending, or changes in risk to other areas of the body beyond the lower back.
1.2.12 This test method is NOT intended for the assessment of medical exoskeletons for people with spinal cord injury or other major physical disabilities or neuromotor disorders.
1.3 Performing Location—This test method can be performed in a testing laboratory or a field (that is, work) environment.
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are not precise mathematical conversions to inch-pound units. They are close approximate equivalents for the purpose of specifying material dimensions or quantities that are readily available to avoid excessive fabrication costs of test apparatuses while maintaining the repeatability and reproducibility of the test method results. These values given in parentheses are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 Table of Contents:
| Section | Title |
| 1 | Scope |
| 2 | Referenced Documents |
| 3 | Terminology |
| 4 | Summary of Test Method |
| 5 | Significance and Use |
| 6 | Hazards |
| 7 | Test Protocol and Standardization |
| 8 | Test Execution |
| 9 | Test Outcome Metrics |
| 10 | Procedure for Data Collection and Analysis for a Single Discrete Lift |
| 11 | Procedure for Data Collection and Analysis for Multiple Discrete Lifts |
| 12 | Procedure for Data Collection and Analysis for Continuous (Time-Series) Data |
| 13 | Precision and Bias |
| 14 | Measurement Uncertainty |
| 15 | Keywords |
| N/A | References |
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Significance and Use:
5.1 Ergonomic assessment tools are useful to safety professionals for quantifying LBD risks. However, there are currently no industry standards for assessing changes in LBD risk when a worker wears a back exoskeleton (also commonly referred to as a back-assist exoskeleton, back-support-exoskeleton, or lift-assist exoskeleton).
5.2 Back exoskeletons are wearable devices that complement traditional ergonomic controls by reducing musculoskeletal forces, a key risk factor for back overexertion injuries (also termed cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive motion injuries, repetitive stress injuries, ergonomic injuries, overuse injuries, or work-related musculoskeletal disorders).
5.3 There is evidence that back exoskeletons can reduce the loading (biomechanical forces) on low back structures, including muscles, ligaments, vertebrae, and discs. Quantifying how much back exoskeletons reduce this loading on the low back and associated LBD risks for certain users, jobs, or tasks could help inform where to deploy (or not deploy) exoskeletons, and how to assess their impact in relation to or in combination with other ergonomic controls or operational changes.
5.4 The results of this test method shall describe how much an exoskeleton changes low back loading and LBD risk factors, thus providing exoskeleton users (for example, workers), exoskeleton researchers (for example, scientists, engineers), exoskeleton implementers (for example, companies, safety professionals), and other stakeholders (for example, insurance companies) with quantitative information about exoskeleton capabilities and expectations with respect to occupational safety and health.
5.5 This test method is designed to be administered by a test technician of appropriate experience and expertise. See Section 1 for details.
5.6 This test method can be applied to various work tasks and various occupational back exoskeletons with ranging capabilities and features. See Section 1 for details.
5.7 This test method can be used in a variety of testing environments.
5.8 This test method can support safety professionals, managers, or other occupational health professionals in assessing the efficacy (or expected efficacy) of back exoskeletons for reducing LBD risk.
5.9 This test method can provide exoskeleton manufacturers, researchers, and insurance companies with quantitative information about exoskeleton performance and exoskeleton effects on work-related musculoskeletal injury risks.
Technical characteristics
| Publisher | American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) |
| Publication Date | 11/01/2025 |
| Collection | |
| Page Count | 14 |
| EAN | --- |
| ISBN | --- |
| Weight (in grams) | --- |
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